O God of Christmas Joy … for the birth of your Son, we give you thanks … for coming to us - rather than asking us to find you somewhere, you have found us … you have come to us in grace and peace … in a way that frightens no one … just a baby wrapped in simple blankets … in a place out of the way … a gentle place, a place that asks very little of us, and gives so very much.
We join the heavenly chorus … Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth, peace among those whom God favors …
And is there anyone, O God, whom you do not favor?
Any human being so low that your hand cannot reach?
A soul so devastated that it’s beyond redemption?
A life so wasted that there’s no hope?
You favor all the world, O God …
You are at work in all things for good …
And though our world seems filled with demons …
The hatred of a man killing family and friends … and ending his own life …
The smoke of war hanging over Gaza this morning …
Pakistani troops massing on the border with India …
Folks losing their jobs …
Losing their homes …
Sadness for so many …
LORD, we’re not going to pretend …
Because you don’t pretend.
You’ve never pretended about this world of ours.
You’ve never worn rose-colored glasses …
You’ve never stuck your head in the sand …
That’s why you came to us, O God …
Prepared to give the greatest gift of all …
Your life offered up for our life …
A love so divine …
A love so pure …
A love to make all things new …
LORD, we’re a part of that effort …
We give our lives anew to you …
Each one of us, as best we can …
Deliver us from fear and frustration …
From loneliness and suspicion …
From anger and anxiety …
LORD, we do not ask that such things never come our way …
They will, and they do …
But only ask your help …
That such things not overwhelm us …
Nor do we ask for a faith greater than these things …
That would be too much …
We ask only for faith the size of a mustard seed …
For such faith is more than enough …
May all gathered here this day be encouraged …
May the young find a light to follow for the rest of their lives …
May the aged find fresh purpose … and a great hope for the glory still to come …
May the tired find some strength …
May those who’ve been hurt by others find some healing …
Make us adequate, we pray, for the needs of the day …
In the name of our LORD Jesus Christ who taught us to pray, saying, Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed by thy name, thy kingdom come …
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